Programs

MVCA Venture Fellows Program

The Michigan Venture Capital Association is proud to offer the Venture Fellows Program to Michigan’s venture capital community. The program, launched in 2023, is designed to increase the number of venture professionals in Michigan in order to accelerate the fundraising and deployment of capital into early-stage companies.

 Michigan’s entrepreneurial and investment community has seen success from funding and employing diverse professionals, but more progress can be made. Although Michigan meets or exceeds the national average of diversity within our venture capital industry, the state has the opportunity to set a benchmark for the industry that more clearly reflects representative populations.
Through Michigan Venture Fellows, applicants with significant ties to Michigan are hired by Michigan venture firms for a fellowship period of two years, with the expectation that they will continue at the firm following the fellowship period.

MVCA staff worked closely with awardees to ensure success, holding quarterly lunches with the venture fellows and arranging educational opportunities. Staff also engaged the fellows in a number of ways to participate in volunteer opportunities to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem—such as serving as reviewers for venture capital funds and/or judging and reviewing various business plan competitions around the state.

In 2017, MVCA created additional eligibility requirements for participating venture capital firms to be dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive entrepreneurial and investment community in Michigan.

The venture capital firm must:

  • Be a member in good standing with MVCA
  • Be headquartered in Michigan or with a Michigan office
  • Be structured in a manner that has general partners receiving a carry
  • Be dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive entrepreneurial and investment community in Michigan
  • Firms with AUM >$100M will need to match at least 60% of the Ventures Fellows salary; firms with AUM <$100M will need to match at least 40%.
  • Priority will be given to venture firms that do not already have an existing fellow.

The Venture Fellow applicant must:

  • Reside in Michigan
  • Have either:
  • -- A graduate degree with a minimum of 1 years of relevant industry experience or deep domain knowledge.
  • -- An undergraduate degree with a minimum of 3 years of relevant industry experience or deep domain knowledge.
  • Be interested in making a meaningful contribution to the Michigan entrepreneurial and investment community.
  • Actively contribute to promoting a diverse and inclusive entrepreneurial and investment community.
Please contact MVCA Project Coordinator Susan Renno, at [email protected] for more details
Michigan VCtalk is a podcast series (launched in 2020) developed by the Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA). Each episode will focus on guests such as investors, entrepreneurs, and other thoughtful leaders that are making a difference in the Michigan ecosystem.
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